No contract has been signed, but all indications are Wilder, the Tuscaloosa heavyweight boxer who won the bronze medal in the 2008 Olympics, will put his undefeated record on the line against Scott, a 33-year-old proven heavyweight who carries a 36-1-1 record with 12 knockouts.

Wilder's manager, Jay Deas, said there have been discussions but could not confirm that the fight has been finalized.

“I can tell you it's a fight that we hope gets made, its a great fight for both guys and I think great for the fans,” Deas said. “I'm hopeful it will (happen).”

The intrigue comes from the step up in competition that Scott would provide Wilder.

The 6-foot-5 Scott is ranked among the top 10 in by the North American Boxing Federation and the United States Boxing Association.

“Malik Scott has a tremendous record and for heavyweight standards he's young, he's tall, he's athletic, he's fast and if that were to work out, that would be a really good challenge,” Deas said.

Wilder (30-0, 30 knockouts) is rated as the No. 3 heavyweight in the world according to the World Boxing Council. In the months following his last win, a technical knockout of Nicolai Firtha in Atlantic City, N.J., on Oct. 26, there was hope that Wilder would get a shot at the vacated WBC title. Instead, the WBC tapped the No. 1 and No. 2 contenders, Bermane Stiverne and Chris Arreola, to fight for the belt that was vacated by Vitali Klischko.

Wilder is ranked No. 5 by the World Boxing Association and No. 12 by the International Boxing Federation.

<p>Deontay Wilder is expected to return the ring on March 15 on Showtime, likely against Malik Scott, the Tuscaloosa News has learned.</p><p>No contract has been signed, but all indications are Wilder, the Tuscaloosa heavyweight boxer who won the bronze medal in the 2008 Olympics, will put his undefeated record on the line against Scott, a 33-year-old proven heavyweight who carries a 36-1-1 record with 12 knockouts.</p><p>Wilder's manager, Jay Deas, said there have been discussions but could not confirm that the fight has been finalized.</p><p>“I can tell you it's a fight that we hope gets made, its a great fight for both guys and I think great for the fans,” Deas said. “I'm hopeful it will (happen).”</p><p>The intrigue comes from the step up in competition that Scott would provide Wilder.</p><p>The 6-foot-5 Scott is ranked among the top 10 in by the North American Boxing Federation and the United States Boxing Association.</p><p>“Malik Scott has a tremendous record and for heavyweight standards he's young, he's tall, he's athletic, he's fast and if that were to work out, that would be a really good challenge,” Deas said.</p><p>Wilder (30-0, 30 knockouts) is rated as the No. 3 heavyweight in the world according to the World Boxing Council. In the months following his last win, a technical knockout of Nicolai Firtha in Atlantic City, N.J., on Oct. 26, there was hope that Wilder would get a shot at the vacated WBC title. Instead, the WBC tapped the No. 1 and No. 2 contenders, Bermane Stiverne and Chris Arreola, to fight for the belt that was vacated by Vitali Klischko.</p><p>Wilder is ranked No. 5 by the World Boxing Association and No. 12 by the International Boxing Federation.</p><p> </p><p><i>Reach D.C. Reeves at 205-722-0196 or dc.reeves@tuscaloosanews.com.</i></p>